The first reviews of Meta's new Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses came out on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The glasses have open-ear speakers and Meta's AI helper, but no camera. They cost $349, Engadget and Tom's Guide reported.

Meta says audio has always been the most-used feature on its smart glasses, and the new pair comes in two classic Ray-Ban styles, Clubmaster and Burbank. Meta offers 23 frame and lens combinations, and each can be made with prescription lenses. Wearers can listen to music and podcasts and take calls through the open-ear speakers, Tom's Guide said.

Battery life is the big selling point; Meta says the glasses last 12 hours with mixed use and about six hours of nonstop music, Engadget reported. A Verge reviewer said they lasted two full workdays without a charge. Reviewers also said the frames are lighter and look more like plain glasses than Meta's camera models.

The launch comes as people push back on camera glasses over privacy; Engadget said dropping the camera makes these glasses less likely to worry people nearby. A Verge reviewer wrote that she did not "feel like a creep" wearing them. A Tom's Guide reviewer said dropping the camera was "the absolute right call."

There are drawbacks, and the Verge said Meta's newer Muse AI model is not on the glasses yet, so they use a weaker version for now. It also noted that Meta's basic camera glasses now start at $250, and that makes the audio pair about $100 more for fewer features.

What we know: The glasses cost $349, have no camera, and get strong marks for battery life.
What we don't: When the stronger Muse AI will arrive, and whether buyers will pay more for less.